Dynamics of Fishes in an Alabama Pond Subjected to Intensive Angling

Abstract
Populations of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), redear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus), channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), and white catfish (Ictalurus catus) in a 10.3 ha pond were observed for 2 years following removal of 314 kg/ha the first year of angling. Estimates of component species population parameters were made from fishing records, seine catches, a mark and recapture study, and a census of the fish recovered when the pond was drained. Fishing pressure ranged between 934 and 1509 angler hours per ha. Catch per angler hour declined from 208 g in 1963 to 137 g in 1965. Catches in the second and third years of fishing were 145 and 170 kg/ha, respectively. Decreased catches of bluegill, the dominant species in catches, were associated with a reduced growth rate that accompanied a high density of small bluegills. Addition of 25 adult largemouth bass per ha did not reduce abundance of the bluegills. Redear sunfish reproduction was negligible during the 2 years of high bluegill abundance. First-year growth of largemouth bass was related to abundance of blue-gill fry, and year-class strength of bluegill was associated with abundance of young-of-year large-mouth bass. Channel catfish reproduction was insufficient to sustain a fishable population, and angler return from restocking with fish 115 to 265 mm total length was low. White catfish maintained a small stock. Standardized seining appeared to be a reliable method for assessing relative abundance of bluegills and redear sunfish less than 140 mm total length and young-of-year largemouth bass.

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